Culvert.



Patented July is, 1901.

C. WULCOTT 8:. P. MaGIRL C U L V E R T.

(Application filed Mar. 28 1901-) (No Model.)

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CLARENCE \VOLCOTT AND PATRICK MAGIRL, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

cum/Ear- SFEGIFEGAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,605, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed March 28, 1901. Serial No. 58,284. (No model.)

To CI/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CLARENCE WOLCOTT and PATRICK MAGIRL, citizens of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cul constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of one of the footpieces or base members; Fig. 3, a sectional view thereof on the line 2 2; Fig. 4, a

plan view of one of the sections employed in constructing the body of the culvert, and Fig. 5 a sectional view on the line 3 3.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and at the same time highly-efficient culvert in which, aside from the footpiece or foundation member, but two forms of plates or body members are employed.

The construction of the bodyplates or members is such that they are reversible and may be used throughout the structure without change or alteration.

Other advantages will appear in the following description.

The foundation or base plate consists of a flat footpiece or flange A and an upright member B, said member B being by preference formed with a wavy or undulatory surface and standing at approximately right angles to the member A. Each end of upright member B is preferably strengthed by a rib or flange C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Cast integral with members A and B are two ribs or flanges D E, the upper ends of said ribs or flanges extending above the upper face or edge of the member B. Rib D is bifurcated at its end, forming two arms F F, while rib E is simply extended, as best seen in Fig. 2.

Two forms of body members or sections are employed-a short and a long one. The short section or member (indicated by G) is provided with strengthening ribs or flanges H at each end and also with a rib or flange I, extending across centrally thereof and projecting beyond the edges, one end being bifurcated, forming arms J, while the other end is, as in the case with rib or flange E, left plain, forming arm K, which extends upwardlyfrom the plate.

L designates the larger or longer sections or body members. As is the case with the shorter sections, they are each provided with end ribs or flangesH; but instead of having one main rib or flange extending across centrally thereof two ribs or flanges M N are formed integrally therewith, the upper end of flange M being bifurcated, forming arms 0 0, while the lower end of said flange is simply extended out beyond the edge of the section, forming arm P. The formation of rib N is simply the reverse of that just describedthat is to say, arms 0 O extend out upon the opposite side of the plate from that of rib M,

while the arm P extends upwardly instead of downwardly. The surface of the body portion of the section is preferably, as in the case of the wall or member 13 of the foundation-plate, wave-like or undulating.

In speaking of the upper and .lower edges of the plates it is to be understood that this is merely a relative term used for convenience in description, as said plates are of course reversible and interchangeable throughout the structure. Near the end of each of the arms there is a triangular opening Q, through which when the parts are in position a locking-pin It, of the same formation in cross-section, is passed.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a short culvert, in which two base-plates or foundation members are employed on each side. As will be observed, two short sections G and a long section L stand next above and are connected directly to the foundation members by the arms extending into the bifurcated ends of the adjacent ribs, where they are locked by are but two long plates or sections employed, said sections being connected to the short sections below, as well as to the middle long section. In this way the short sections are securely locked in place, and a lap-joint is formed. This arrangement of sections is continued throughout the entire structure, the sections-overlapping the joints in those next and the long sections tying the shorter sections securely in place. When the arch is completed, the abutting edges of the sections prevent it from collapsing, and so long as the foundation or base members remain fixed the overlapping of the arms or extensions of the connecting-ribs will serve to properly maintain the sections in place and to distribute the strain equally throughout the entire structure. In fact, after the parts are in position the locking-pins may be withdrawn, if so desired, though in practice it will be found more convenient to leave them in place.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is l. A culvert constructed of reversible sections having one or more integral overlapping flanges; and means for connecting the ends of said flanges.

2. A culvert comprising a body portion made up of a series of metallic plates, the plates breaking joint with each other throughout the structure; and integrally formed overlapping means extending out beyond the body of the plates upon opposite sides thereof for locking said plates together.

3. A culvert comprising suitable base or foundation members; a series of plates forming the body portion of the culvert, said foundation members and plates breaking joint throughout; integrally-formed overlapping devices carried by the parts for connecting said plates and the foundation members; and means for securing said overlapping devices together.

4. A culvert comprising suitable foundation members; a body portion consisting of a series of reversible plates, said plates breaking joint throughout the series and also with the foundation members; and integral overlapping means for connecting said plates and the foundation members together.

5. A culvert comprising a series of base plates or members; a series of sections forming the body portion thereof, said sections breaking joint throughout the structure; and ribs formed upon said members, extending over and interlocking with the ribs on the adjacent members.

6. A culvert comprising foundation plates or members having ribs integrally formed thereon which extend up above the upper edges thereof; a series of body members; ribs or flanges integrally formed upon said members, the ends of said ribs or flanges extending out beyond the edges of the members; and means for locking the ends of said ribs together when the parts are in position.

7. A culvert comprising foundation members, each member being provided with a rib D, the end of which extends upwardly beyond the upright member of said foundation and is bifurcated; and a second rib E, the end of which extends upwardly above the edge of said upright member; a series of plates L having ribs M and N thereon, the upper end of rib M being bifurcated, and the lower end of rib N likewise bifurcated, substantially as described; and a series of short plates G having a single rib formed thereon, the upper end of which is bifurcated,the plates being arranged to break joint throughout the structure, substantially as described.

8. A culvert comprising suitable foundation members provided with upwardly-extending arms; a series of plates forming the body portion of the culvert, said plates being formed with ribs the ends of which extend out beyond the edges of the plates, each extending end being provided with a triangular opening therein; and locking keys or members extending through said openings and securing the parts in position, substantially as described.

9. A culvert comprising a series of base plates or members; a series of sections forming the body portion thereof, said sections breaking joint throughout the structure in a direction transverse to the axis of the arch; integrally-formed members extending out from opposite sides of the plates and sections and overlapping the longitudinal joints in the structure; and means for securing said overlapping members together.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE WOLCOTT. PATRICK MAGIRL. Witnesses:

JONATHAN H. RowELL, JACOB P. LINDLEY. 

